Protopterus aethiopicus pattern development

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Mark Pajak

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 11, 2012
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Bristol England
My 20" MALlungfish has small black speckles in addition to the paler body pattern which is dark grey (not black) on yellow. The speckles are melanocytes I think.

I see many YouTube videos of Asian origin of mature lungfish which are the same species but the pattern is much darker. my question is are the darker fish different varieties, or is the black on them the result of mature scale growth and more melanocytes?

I have not seen a picture of a mature MAL with the same colouration as the I'm tires so I guess the pTtern changes as they develop?
 
Here's mine a while back. Not a great vid but you can see the small dark freckles (on face and back)

[video=youtube_share;ws0u9TNPv4w]http://youtu.be/ws0u9TNPv4w[/video]
 
That's normal for lungfish to have those. It varies in sizes on individual lungfish. It can be seen on annectens as well as dolloi. Urs is a protopterus aethiopicus congicus or congo marble lungfish and the second vid that was from japan is a protopteru aethiopicus aethiopicus. They have smaller patterns as they grow.
 
Some are more faint or washed out. Others are darker in pattern. depends on individual specimens. I've always believed P. aethio aethio to be darker then P. aethiopicus congicus. However with most lungfish there are always different patterns among same species.
 
Ah, great, thanks for clarification and identification. It makes sense that such difference is between subspecies. Are there any pics or videos of a mature P.aethiopicus congicus?
 
In the TFH book: Jurassic fishes, there are pics of a baby, an albino, and an awesome pic of an adult P. aethio. congicus. Pages 88 and 89.
 
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